Machine for operating upon sheet material



Oct. 25, 1932. E, E. WINKLEY 1,884,947

' MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SHEET MATERIAL Filed Feb. 21, 1929 4sheets-sheet 1 WVE/VTUEL il k'a lmm 25, 1932. wlNKL Y 1,884,947

MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SHEE-T MATERIAL Fil ed Feb. 21. 1929 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 25, 1932. E. E. WINKLEY 1,884,947

MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SHEET MATERIAL Filed Feb. 21, 1929 4Sheets-Sheet 3 m T, N ww m V 3 W Nww M u amm i O 0 WW 4 7 NW \Sw W O fim RN @N wm wmw mm Qct..25'; 1932. E. E. WINKLEY 4 1,884,947

MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SHEET MATERIAL Filed Feb. 21, 1929 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 25, 1932 umren STATES PATENT} orricaERASTUS E. WINKLEY, OF LYNN, IVIASSACHNSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOEMACHINEBY'CORI PORATION, OF PATEBSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OFNE-"VV JERSEY MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SHEET MATERIAL Applicationfiled. February 21, 1929. Serial No. 341,764.

- I be recognized that novel features of the invention are not limitedto embodiment in ill machines of that type. a

In performing various operations, for example stamping operations, uponcertain kinds of sheet material, such as sheet rubber in the productionof rubber soles and other articles, considerable difficulty hasheretofore been experienced in automatically feeding sheets of material,or different portions of the same sheet of material, accurately withrelation to devices for operating'upon the mate rial. This diflicultyhas been found to be due largely to the flexibility of the materialwhich causes it to stretch or buckle as it is moved from one place ofoperation to another,thus making it diflicult to feed it a definitedistance without distortion.

In view of this, it is an object of the present invention to provideimproved means for facilitating the handling and feeding of sheetmaterial in a machine of the type referred to in order to render theoperations performed upon the material more accurate and certain withoutdecreasing the production of the machine.

A feature of the invention consists in a novel organization ofcontinuously operating mechanism for advancing sheet material past anoperating instrumentality together with means for intermittentlyinterrupting the advance of the material and for presenting a portionthereof to the operating instrumentality. As illustrated, the machineembodying this organization comprlses an endless conveyor for feedingsheets of material along a table which is operable in timed relationwith respect to the conveyor to'move through the plane of the conveyorto interrupt the ad- Vance of the sheets by simultaneously removing allof them from the conveyor. Preferably, mechanism is provided forcontrolling the advance of the sheets in spaced relation along the tableso that each sheet as it reaches the operating'station and isremovedfrom the conveyor will be positioned laterally in predetermined relationwith respect to th operating instrumentality.

In handling material in the manner above outlined, the sheets are notsubjectedtopressures which would tend to distort them in such way as tomake their feeding uncertain, and the operation of the table iseffective to present a sheet to the operating instrumentality only afterit has been advanced by a predetermined distance. In this way successiveoperations can be performed upon the same sheet accurately andeconomically with respect to the use of material. Furthermore, thecontinuous operation of the conveyor reduces the time required forlocating the material in operative position substantially to aminimum.The simultaneous removal of all of the 'material fromthe conveyorresults in the preserving of the spaced relation of the sheets as theyare advanced so that there is no interference between a sheet at theoperating station and the preceding orsucceeding sheets. 7

Another feature oft-he invention consists in the provision of improvedmeans for successively locating different portions of sheet of materialwith respect to the operating 'instrumentality so that several opera'tlons may be successively performed on the same sheet of material atpredetermined intervals. The construction shown comprises a series ofstops for locating different portions of the sheet of materialrelatively to the operating instrumentality in turn, the conveyor beingoperative to feed material from one stop to another between operationsupon the I material.

Novel mechanism is also provided for ar restlng the advance of a sheetuntil the pre ceding sheet has passed the operating instru- Fig. 1 is aperspective vlew of a machine,

embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a portionof a sheet'ofmatefeatures of the in rial uponwhich the machine is designed to operate;

Fig. 3 is a view, partly in section, transversely through the machine;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the operating instrumentality and conveyormechanism;

Fig. 5 is a detail View showing stop mechanism; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views showing the table-elevating mechanism.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the illustrated machine comprises ahorizontally disposed frame 10 supported upon standards 12. Centrally ofthe frame 10 is located a die 18 for performing a plurality ofsuccessive stamping operations upon each of a succession of sheets ofmaterial, such as rubber sole stock, advanced in turn past said die bymeans of a continuously operating endless conveyor 14. Normallypositioned below the plane of the conveyor is a table or grid 16constituting a Work support which is arranged for intermittent movementvertically through the plane of the conveyor to remove each sheet ofmaterial from en agement with the conveyor and to support the materialduring each of the successive operations performed upon it.

The conveyor 14 comprises a drive chain 18 and a plurality of drivenchains 20 extending in a horizontal direction and passing roundsprockets 22 secured to shafts 24 rotatably mounted at opposite ends ofthe frame 10.

The drive chain 18 passesover idler sprockcts 26 (Fig. 3 and 4) and adrive sprocket 28 which is secured to a shaft 30 driven by a pulley 32,the arrangement being such that the chains 18 and 20 are continuouslydriven, during the operation of the machine, so that their upwardlydisposed surfaces adj acent to the table 16 move lengthwise of themachine from right to left in Fig. 1. In order to prevent sagging of thechains between the shafts 24 a plurality of longitudinally extendinggrooved guides 84 (Fig. 3) are secured to the frame 10 in position toreceive and support the chains.

To provide means for adjusting the tension on the chains, the shaft 24at the left end of the machine, as viewed in F l, is mounted upon alever 36 pivoted to the frame 10 at 38 (F g. 7). A bolt 40, which passesthrough the frame 10 and is threaded into a collar 42 pivoted on thelever 86, secures the lever in position. By turning the bolt the levercan be moved about its pivot 38 in a direction to tighten or loosen thechains as required.

In feeding sheets of rubber sole stock by means of the conveyor it hasbeen found desirable to make use of a cutting board, preferably made ofrag stock, to act as a support and guide for a sheet as it passesthrough the machine. Accordingly, each sheet, such as sheet 43 (Figs. 2,3 and 4),

is positioned upon a cutting board, such as board 44, the bead 45 of thematerial (Fig. 2) being located parallel to one edge of the board andspaced therefrom by a predetermined distance in order to locate thestock centrally of the machine, and the edge of the board serving aspositioning means, as hereinafter described. Each of the successivesheets of rubber is held in position upon a cutting board by means of sring clamps 46, one of which is shown in ig. 2. Each of the clamps 46comprises a pair of pivoted membersprovided with gripper jaws 47 andhandles 48, the jaws being normally urged toward each other by a spring,not shown. Two or more of such clamps are used in securing a sheet to acutting board after alignment of the sheet with the board, the gripperjaws of the clamps being adjusted manually along one edge of the sheetand released so that the jaws grip between them the sheet and cuttingboard with the rubber sheet uppermost. In this way sheets aretemporarily secured to and supported by the boards which can. be fed bythe conveyor predetermined distances without subjecting the sheetsthemselves to lateral pressures which would tend to distort thematerial.

To provide for moving the table or grid 16 vertically through the planeof the con veyor for removing the work comprising sheets carried by thecutting boards from the conveyor and supporting the work duringoperations, performed upon it, the table 16 comprises a casting 49 fromopposite sides of which project a plurality of rods 50. eX- tendingsubstantially the full length of the conveyor, secured to end members 52and 53 (Figs. 1 and 6) carried by plungers 54 mounted forslidingmovement vertically of the frame 10. The normal position of the table isin a plane parallel to but below the upper surface of the conveyorchains. Slots 55, best shown in Fig. 1, are provided in the casting 49through which the chains 18 and 20 pass. so that the chains will notinterfere with the movements of the table.

The table 16 is raised and lowered by means of bell-crank levers 56,best shown in Fig. 6, connected to the end members 52 and 53 by togglelinks 58. The bell-cranks 56 are,

arranged for actuation by means of a cam 60 (Fig. 4) mounted upon ashaft 62 which is continuously driven by a link chain 64 from the shaft30. The cam 60 is provided with a cam track 66 in which runs a roll 68connected toa lever 7 O mounted for oscillation about a pivot 72 on aframe member 73. Pivotally secured to the end of the lever is a collar74 slidably mounted upon link 7 6 which is connected to a lever 78pivotally mounted on the frame 10. The link 7 6 is provided with abushing 80 arranged for en gagement with the collar 74 upon movement ofthe. lever 70 in a counter-clockwise direc tion'and by whichthe link 76is moved iipjwardly. spring82 ispositioned on the lower end of the link7 6 between the collar 74 and. a washer 8 1, the arrangement being suchthat movement ofthe lever 70 in a clockwlse direction causes. the.-Lcollar 7 1 to com press the spring 82, thereby .yieldingly to move thelink 76v downwardly. Operation of the table responsive to movements ofthe link '76 is effected byrods'86 and" 88 which connect the lever 78with the bell-cranks 56 at opposite ends of the machine, a. spring 90being provided to counterbalance-the weight of the table 1 6.

- The construction just described is such that the table 16 is moved upor down upon actuation of the lever 7 6 downwardly or upwardly by' thecam60. Thus the table is moved in-' termittently up and down through theplane of the conveyor '10 in timed relation to therotation of the cam.

' the die.

The timing of the cam is such that between elevations of the table theconveyor operates to feed a sheet, which has been advanced tot-he die18, the proper distances for successively locating different portions ofthe sheet relatively to the die 13 for performing a plurality ofoperations upon the sheet.

Movement of thetable into raised position is eifect-ive'to remove fromthe conveyor all of the sheets of material resting upon it, that is,sheets which have been advanced past the die, the sheet being operatedupon, and the sheet or sheets which are to be advanced to are returnedto the conveyor for further feeding movement.

Means is provided for locating the forward end'of each sheet of materialas it is fed with respect to the die and for subsequently determiningthe position of each sheet to locate different portions thereofrelatively to the die. To this end use is made of a gage which comprisesa. bar 94' 1 and l) pivotally f and slidably mounted in brackets96 and98 on the frame and extending in the direction of feed of the material.Upon the bar 9el'are a plurality of raised projections 100 extendinglengthwise thereof, each of said projections having a number of stops 102 pivotally connected thereto; :Each of thestops, Which are preferablyformed of sheet metal, has a tail piece 10 i and a nose portion 106substantially U-shaped in cross-section. Springs 108 are providednormally to hold the nose portions 106 extended outwardly from theprojections 100 but'the construction is such that a stop may be rotated,in a manner to be.

explained, about its pivot until its nose portion projects only slightlyfrom the surface of a projection-100, the lower part of the nose portionbeing receivedin a slot 110 in the projection. Thenum-ber of stops maybevaried as desired to control the spacing of operations upon sheetsofvarious sizes. The

When the table is lowered the sheets stops are spaced along the gageaccording to the distance it is desirable to feed the work. betweenoperations performed upon it, the gage in the present instance beingprovided, with four sets of stops by which severaldiffer ent spacingscan be obtained,- it being necessary only to rotate the gage upon thebearings in brackets 96 and 98 until the de I I As shown in Fig. l, onlythe stops in uppermost posisired serie'sof stops is uppermost.

tion are operative at any given time. In this position the stops projectslightly above the plane ofthe conveyor 14 into the path of ad- Ivanceof the work so that, as the work is advanced against the stops bythe conveyor, feeding'movement of the sheet is arrested.- It should benotedthat each sheet of material is positioned upon a cutting boardwithits forward edge slightly-to the rear of the cor responding edge of theboard so that the stops contact with the edge of theboard rather thanwith "that of the sheet thus to eliminate 1ike.;

further movement of the bar 94 and stop is prevented by a bracket 98.The stop then arrests further advancing movement of the workwhich is nowproperly located laterally for the operation of the die. As the table isoperated to elevate the work into position to be operated upon, thework'is raised above the nose portion 106 of the stop with which it isengaged, releasing the gage 94 which is moved to the right by the springabove referred to. This movement brings the first stop underneath theedge of the work so that when the table is lowered, returning the workto the conveyor,the forward edge thereof meets with no resistance untilit has advanced into engagement with the second stop after which thecycle is repeated. The

weight of the work is suflicient to depress the 7 springs 108, movingthe stops about their pivots until their nose portions 106 areclose tothe projection 100, thus enabling the work to rest substantially flatupon the conveyor.

For effecting proper location of the work transversely of the die '18,the machine is provided with means comprising a gage plate 112 (Fig. 1)secured to the table and extending in a vertical direction alongone sidethereof. Periodically actuated devices operate to move the aligned sideedges of the sheets and cutting board into engagement with the gageplate to position them. To this end, as shown in Figs; 1 and 2, a pusherrod 114 is arranged to contact with the c1amps4l6 and to move brackets122 and 124 extending from the table 16. A shaft 126 rotatably mountedin said brackets is connected to the arms 118 by means of links 128 and130.

Mounted on the side of the machine frame is a shaft 132 operativelyconnected to the shaft 126 by lever 134 and links 136 and 138. A spring140 is provided tending normally to turn the shaft 132 in such manner asto effect a rocking of the shaft 126 in a direction to move the pusher114 inwardly, thus effecting a yielding pressure upon clamps 46 to forcethem and the work held by them toward the gage 112. The timing of thismovement is controlled by a cam face 142 (Fig. 4) associated, with thecam 60, which operates a plunger 144 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) carried by thelever 146 and operatively connected by links 148 and 150 to shaft 132.When the high part of the cam face 142 engages the plunger 144,

4 the latter is rotated against the force of the spring 140 to effect aretraction of the pusher 114. The construction and arrangement are suchthat the pusher 114 is moved inwardly yieldingly to press the workagainst the gage plate 112 as the work is advanced toward the die by theconveyor between elevations of the table, thereby insuring properlocation of the material transversely of the operating devices prior toan operation thereon.

A guide rod 152. one end of which is pivotallv secured to the pusher rod114 and the other end being held by a bracket 154, serves as a guide fordirecting the clamps 46 into positions in which the clamps straddle thepusher, as shown in Fig. 2. The operator, in placing a cutting boardwith a sheet of ma terial clamped thereto upon the conveyor, merelyslides the work in a direction to bring the handles 48 of the clamps 46over the guide rod 152, the clamps being guided thereby,

automatically, onto the pusher rod 114 as the conveyor advances thework.

Means is provided for successively arresting the advance of sheets ofmaterial at a predetermined distance from the die 13 and for releasingthem at the proper times so that each of them can be fed into operativeposltlon during a sin gle advance movement of the conv veyor betweensuccessive operations of the table.

To this end, a bracket 156 (Figs. 4 and 5) is secured to two of the rodsforming the table 16. Pivotally mounted in the bracket 156 is a member158 which carries at one end a pair of stop fingers 160 and at the otherend end of the arm 162,1novement of the fingers in that direction beinglimited by set screw 166 arranged for contact with the arm 162.

.When rotated in a clockwise direction the fingers 160 project above theplaneof the con veyor 14, as shown in Fig. 4, into the path of' thematerial in such manner as to engage forward edges of the cutting boardthereby to arrest the advance of the work. This is for the purpose ofpreventing forward movement of a sheet until the preceding sheet haspassed the die 18.

In order to release the, stock from the re-- taining action of thefingers 160 at the proper time, use is made of a detecting mechanismwhich initiates operation of mechanism for rotating the fingers intoinoperative position. The detecting mechanism comprises a detector plate168 carried by a rod 170 slidably mounted in the frame 10, a spring 172tending to force the rod and plate downwardly. The rod 170 has a collar17 4 having a groove 176 in which is positioned one end of a bellcranklever 178 pivoted on a stud 179 carried by the frame. The other arm ofthe lever 178 is pivotally connected to a link 180 received loosely in acollar 181 fixed to the lower end of a lever 182 which is mounted upon astud 184 for oscillating movement under the end of the arm 162. Normallythe collar 181 is yieldingly held against a stop 190 (Fig. 4) on thelink 180 by means of a spring 192.

Movement of the detector plate 168 downwardly is limited by means of setscrew 193, carried by arm 194 secured to rod 170, which engages theframe 10 when the table is lowered, so that plate 168 does not extendinto the path of feed of the work. However, when work is positioned uponthe conveyor and the table is elevated, the detector plate is raisedslightly against the action of the spring 172 by the material positionedadjacent to the operating station, as shown in Fig. 4, the materialactuating the lever 178 to move the link 180 to the left. In thisposition of the link 180 the upper arm of the lever 182 extends to theright out of engagement with the arm 162 so that the fingers 160 arerotated by spring 164 into elevated position slightly above the plane ofthe conveyor thus to engage with the forward edge of stock which hasbeen fed toward the operating station. During successive movements ofthe table the first sheet of stock is fed underneath the plate 168 untilit has been advanced beyond the plate, the fingers 160 meanwhilepreventing forward movement of the second sheet.

After the rear end of the first sheet is advanced beyond the plate 168,the rod 170 is lowered under the action of spring 172, causing rotationof the lever 178 in a counter clockwise direction and moving the link180 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 5, with the result that the leverarm 182 is brought under the arm 162. When the table next descends, theengagement of the arm 182 with the arm 162 results in counter-clockwiserotation of the member 158 and the fingers 160 are moved intoinoperativeposition below the plane of the conveyor. The second sheet is thenadvanced underneaththe plate 168 until it is brought to rest by the stop102, and the cycle repeated. A guard or locking member (Figs. 4 and 5)secured to bracket 156 is provided to prevent movement of the arm 182 indirections either to engage or release the arm "162 except at such timesas the table is in its elevated position. Thus, the advance and ar-.

rest of the sheets are intimed relation tothe movements of the table.

As illustrated, the means for operating upon the work comprisesmeans forimpress- .ing upon sheet rubber medallion stamps,

such as those indicated by reference characf ter S (Fig.2). To this.end, the die 13 (Figs.

' 3. and carried by a fixed head (not shown) is so positionedab'ove thecasting 49 as to be sli htly spaced therefrom when the table Sli'dably16 is in itsuppermostposition.

' mounted' in an extension 196 of the casting 49 is a plunger 198arranged formovement toward and away from the die 13 for pressingmaterial inoperative position against the die, thereby to impressmedallion stamps upon the material. The plunger 198 is operatedintermittently by means of togglev mechanism compr sing llnks 200 and202 which are actuated by a link 204 connected to the cam-operatedlever70. ,The link 200 is connected to the lower endiof the plunger 198, andthe link 202 is pivotally connected to a forked lever 206. The lever 206is supported near the link 202 by a threaded shaft 208 extending intothe frame member 7 3 and carried by the frame, through bevel gears 224 Von shaft 222 and 226 on shaft 208, raisesor lowersthe forked end'of thelever'206 substantially about the center of the extension 211, the lever206 being sufiiciently long so that there is very little movement at itsouter end; "Adjustmentof the'forked end of the lever 206 up or downraises or lowers the lower pivot point of link 202 so'that'when thetoggle is straightened the plunger. will .erminateits upward movementhigher or lower with respect to die 13. This adjust-' ment is providedto-take care of operations upon difierent thicknesses of material.

Since the spring 218 exerts substantially the same pressure upon theplunger 214 against forces tending to straighten the toggle, thestamping pressure will remain substantlally the samefor any adjustmentof the plunger operation for any thickness of material.

Mechanism is provided for releasing the spring clamps 46 fromthe cuttingboards and sheets carried thereby after they have passed the o1 eratingstation. This mechanism comprises two rods 228 (Figs. 1 and carried bylinks 230 secured to shafts 232 supported in brackets 234. The links 230are provided with intermeshing racks .236 which 7 insure movementof thelinks 230 in unison aboutthe shafts 232. To one end of the lowermostlink 230 is connected an actuating rod- 238 which is operable by meansof a foot treadle 240' through a series of connections comprising a bellcrank 242, a rod 244, a bell-crank 246 and a rod 248.. By. depressingthe treadle 240therod 238 is lowered,

causing links 230 and rods 228 torotate toward each other. As rods 228approach each other they contact with the handles 48 of the springclamps 46 in such manner as to open the jaws 47 of the clamps, releasingthem from the material, A spring 250 surround-- connection '244 operatesto return the rods 228 to inoperative position after the treadle 240 isreleased.

In order to provide for the return of the released clamps to the end ofthe machine where they can be used for positioning and guiding freshsheets of material on the con veyor, the machine is provided with a belt252 (Figs land 3) passing over roller 254 and shaft 256 which is drivenby pinion 258 operativelyconnected to shaft 24. The belt is driven inthe direction to carry the clamps, wh ch' fall thereon when released, tothe right-hand end of the machine (Fig. 1). 'By this device the,operator who supplies the :sheet materialto the machine is relieved ofthe necessity of leaving his station to obtain clamps. f

Preparatory to operation of the machine, sheet material such as sheetsof rubber are temporarily secured to cutting boards by means of clampssuch as clamps 46 (Fig. 2)

in the manner above described. An operator who is supplied with a numberof such sheets secured to cutting boards stands at the right hand end ofthe mach ne (Flg. 1) and places the work, one piece at a time, upon theconveyor 1 with the arms of the clamps in engagement with the guide rod152. 1 The material is then advanced toward the die by the conveyor, thepusher rod 114 being moved inwardly yieldingly to press against theclamps and to move the work secured thereto. against the gage plate 112thereby to locate the work transversely of the machine. The first pieceof work is advanced by the conveyor until its forward edge engages withthe first of the stops 102 which arrest-s movement of the work. Thetable 16 isthcn elevated to remove the work from the conveyor and topresent it to the die 13 which performs a stamping operation thereon.While the work is being operated upon, the first stop 102 is moved tothe right underneath the edge of the work so that when the table islowered upon the completion of the stamping opera,

the clamps thereby to release the clamps from the work which is thenremoved from the conveyor. The released clamps fall upon the belt 252which carries them back to the right-hand end of the machine where theycan again be used in securing sheets to cutting boards.

As the first piece of workis being advanced a second piece is placedupon the conveyor but its advance movement is arrested by the stopfingers 160 which are rotated into the path of feed of the second sheetin response tomovement of detector plate 168 which is actuated uponengagement with the first sheet when the table is elevated. The secondpiece of work is held against advance movement by the stop fingers 160until operations upon the first piece of work has been completed afterwhich the fingers 160 are depressed and the second piece of workadvanced into engagement with the stops 102 and the cycle of operationsis repeated.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a machine for operatingupon flexible sheet material, a conveyor adapted to feed sheet material,means for operating the conveyor uninterruptedly, a work supportnormally below and spaced from said conveyor, above and across whichsheet material is fed by the conveyor, and means operativeintermittently to elevate the work support into engagement with materialfed by the conveyor and to cause the work support to lift said materialfrom the conveyor, therebv interrupting the feeding of the material;

2. In a machine for operating upon flexible sheet material a conveyoradaptedto feed sheet material, means for operating the con veyoruninterruptedly, a work support normally spaced from the conveyor, aboveand across which sheet material is fed by the con veyor, and meansoperative intermittently to move the work support into engagement withmaterial fed by the conveyor and to cause the work support to removesaid material from the conveyor, thereby interrupting the feeding ofthematerial.

3. In a machine for operating upon flexible sheet material,a conveyoradapted to feed sheet material, means for operating the conveyoruninterruptedly, a work support normally spaced from the conveyor, aboveand across which sheet material is fed by the conveyor, and meansoperative intermittently to cause relative movement of the conveyor andwork support to effect engagement of the work support with the materialfed by the conveyor and to cause the worksupportto remove said materialfrom the conveyor thereby interruptingthe feeding of the material. V r

4. In a machinefor operating upon flexible sheet material, an operatinginstrumentality, a conveyor adapted to feed sheet material, means foroperating the conveyor uninterruptedly, a work support normally spacedfrom said conveyor, above and across which sheet material is fed by theconveyor, and means operative intermittently to cause relative movementof the conveyor and work support to effect engagement of the worksupport with the material fed by the conveyor and to cause the worksupport to remove the material from the conveyor to present the materialand to support it for operation by the operating instrumentality.

5. In a machine for operating upon flexible sheet material, an operatinginstrumentality, continuously operating means for feeding the materialpast the operating instrumentality, and means movable relatively to thefeeding means to remove the material ther from and to support thematerial in fixed position during operations performed upon it.

6. In a machine for operating upon flexible sheet material, an operatinginstrumentality, means for feeding a sheet of material past theoperating instrumenta-lity, means for operating said feeding meansuninterruptedly,

and means operative to'remove the sheet from the feeding means and topresent it to the operating instrumentality,

7. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, an operatinginstrumentality, a

continuously operating conveyor for feeding sheets of material past saidinstrumentality, means for controlling the spacing of the sheets beingfed, and means for simultaneously removing all of the sheets from theconveyor and for presenting one of them to said instrumentality.

8. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, an operatinginstrumentality, a table movable into andout of position for supportingthe material to be operated upon in operative relation to saidinstrumentality,

and continuously Operating means for feedingthe material above andacross the table, the construction and arrangement being such as toeffect a release of the material from the feeding "means upon movementof the table toward said instrumentality.

9. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, a continuouslyoperable endless conveyor. for feeding sheets of material from one endof the machine toward the other, a table normally positioned below theplane of the conveyor and extending substantially the entire length ofthe conveyor, intermittently operable means for elevating the tablethrough the plane of the conveyor thereby to raise the sheets out ofengagement with the conveyor, and means for operating upon one of thesheetswhile it is in raised position. I

10., In a machine for operating upon sheet material, a. continuouslyoperating endless conveyor for feeding sheet material in a horizontaldirection, a table normally positioned below the conveyor and extendingsubstantially the entire length thereof, intermittently operable meansfor elevating the table through the plane of the conveyor thereby to 12.In a machine for operating upon sheet material, a table extendinglengthwise of the machine, means for feeding sheet material .above andacross said table from one end thereof toward the other, and means formoving the table to remove the material from the feeding means.

13. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, a work supportextending lengthw se of the machine, means for feedlng sheet 7 materialabove and across said work support from one end thereof toward theother,,and means for relatively moving the feeding means and the worksupport tocause the work support to engage with and to remove thematerial from the feeding means.

llaln a machine for operating upon sheet material, an instrumentalityfor effecting operations upon sheet material, a table normally locatedbelow the plane of operations upon the material, feeding devicespositioned above. thetable in its normal position and operative to feedsheets of material past the instrumentality, and means operativeintermittently to elevate the table above the feed- 1 mg means and tohold the sheets in fixed position during operations performed upon oneof them.

15. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, an endless conveyorfor sheet material, a table normally positioned'bel'ow the plane of'theconveyor, intermittently operable means constructed and arranged formoving the table through the plane of the conveyor to remove thematerial therefrom,

and'means for operating upon the material while out of engagement withthe conveyor.- 1

16. In a-machine for operating upon'sheet' material, an operatinginstrumentality, a continuouslyoperatingconveyor for advancingshcetmaterial past said instrumentality, and means for removing the materialfrom the conveyor when the materialhas been .ad vanced intopositronto beoperated upon and for supporting it in operative relation to theinstrumentality.

.117. In amaohine for operating'upon sheet material, :an operatinginstrumenta-lity, a continuously operating conveyor for feeding materialpast said instrumentality, means for arresting feeding movement of thematerial when it has been advanced into operative position laterally ofthe instrumentality, a work support, and means for effectingrelativemovement of the conveyor and work support to remove the material fromthe conveyor and to hold it in position for operation thereon by saidinstrumentality.

18. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, an instrumentalityfor operating upon sheet material, continuously operating conveyorforfeeding the material past said instrunientality, means for arrestingfeeding movement of the material when it has been advanced into apredetermined position relative to said instrumentality, and'meansoperable through the plane of the conveyor to remove the material fromthe conveyor and to hold it performed by said instrumentality.

.19. Ina machine for operating upon sheet material, an operatinginstrumentality, a continuously operating convey-or for advancing asheet of material past said instrumentality,

means for successively arresting the advance of the sheet with theforward end thereof in predetermined positions relatively to theinstrumenta-lity, andmoans for removing the sheet from the conveyor andfor presenting it to the instrumentalitybetween successive operations ofthe arresting means. 1

20. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, a continuouslyoperating conveyor for successively advancing sheet material from oneend of the machine toward the other, means for operating-upon thematerial, means for intermi "tent-1y arresting the advance of thematerial to locate different portions of it laterally with respect tothe-operating means, and means for removing the in fixed position curinganoperation fizz material from the conveyor to present it to saidoperating means and for returning the material to the conveyor after anoperation has been performed thereon.

21. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, an operatinginstrumentality, means for feeding a sheet of material past saidinstrumentality, means for operating said feeding means uninterruptedly,means for successively arresting the advance of the sheet being fed bythe feeding means as the sheet successively reaches predeterminedpositions relatively to said instrumentality, and means operativeintermittently to remove the sheet of material from the feeding meansand to present successive portions of the sheet to the operatinginstrumentality.

22. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, an operatinginstrumentality, a continuously operating conveyor for feeding thematerial past the instrumentality, and means operating through the planeof the conveyor for alternately removing the material from and replacingit in engagement with the conve or thereby to present different portionsof the material to said instrumentality.

23. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, an operatinginstrumentality, means for feeding a sheet of material past saidinstrumentality, means for operating said feeding means unintcrruptedly,and means operative intermittently to remove the sheet of material fromthe feeding means and to present successive portions of the sheet to theoperating instrumentality.

24. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, an operatinginstrumentality, a corn tinuously operating conveyor for feeding sheetsof material in turn past said instrumentality, means positioned in thepath of feed of the sheets for locating successivel the forward ends ofthe sheets relatively to the operating instrumentality, and means formoving a sheet from the conveyor into position to be operated upon bysaid instrumentality.

25. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, an operatinginstrumentality, means for feeding sheets of material pastsaidinstrumentality, means for successively locating each sheet in turn inoperative position laterally of the operating means, and means formoving the sheets from the feeding means into the plane of operation ofsaid instrumentality.

26. In a machine for operating upon slice material, an operatinginstrumentala continuously operating conveyor for feeding sheets ofmaterial successively past said instrumentality, stop normallypositioned in the line of feed of the sheets for locating successivelythe forward ends of the sheets relatively to the operating means,meansfor moving a sheet from the conveyor into position to be operatedupon by the instrumentality and for returning it to the conveyor afteran operation has been performed thereon, and means for moving the stopin a direction opposite to the feeding movement While the sheet isdisengaged from the conveyor thereby to render the stop inoperative.

27. in a machine for operating upon sheet material, a Work support, acontinuously operating conveyor for advancing sheet material above andacross the Work support, a member normally disposed in the path ofmovement of the material for arresting the advance thereof, means forcausing relative movement of the Work support and conveyor to remove thematerial from the conveyor and to returnthe material to the conveyor,and means rendering the member inoperative for further arresting theadvance of the material. V i

28. In a machine for operating upon sheet mate -al, a work support, acontinuously operating conveyor for advancing sheet material above andacross the Work support, a yieldahle stop disposed in the path ofmovement of the material for arresting the ad- Vance tiereof, means forcausing relative movement of the Work support and conveyor to remove thematerial from the conveyor and return it to the conveyor, and means0perahle While the material is removed from the conveyor for moving thestop in a direction opposed to the direction of advance of the materialto render the stop inoperative.

29. In machine for operating upon sheet material, means for feedingsheet material, means for arresting the feed of the material inpredetermined positions comprising a plu rallty of stops normallyextending into the path of feed of the material, means for moving thematerial out of engagement With the stops, and means for moving thestops in the path of feed of the material While the material isdisengaged therefrom for efiecting advance of the material from one stopto another.

30. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, means for feedingthe material, a plurality of stops normally extending into the path. offeed of the material and mounted for movement out of the path of feed,means for advancing the material successively from one stop to another,means for moving the material out of and back into the path of feed, andmeans for rendering one of the stops inoperative upon return of thematerial into the path of feed.

31. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, a continuouslyoperating conveyor for feeding sheet material, a series of pivotallymounted stops normally extending into the path of feed of the materialfor successively arresting the advance of the material, and meansco-operating with the feeding means for feeding sheet materialpast saidinstrumentality, and a gage comprising arotatably mounted bar and aplurality ofseries of spaced stops carried by the bar, the constructionand arrangement being such that each of the series of stops can bepositioned selectively in the path of feed of the material.

33. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, an operatinginstrumentality, a continuously operating conveyor for advancing sheetsof material past said instrumentality, a detector plate for determiningthe presence of a sheet in proximity tothe instrumentality, a stopfinger, and means responsive to operations of the detector plate formoving the stop finger into and out of the path of advance of thesheets.

34. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, an operatinginstrumentality, a continuously operating conveyor for advancing sheetsof material past said instrumenta'lity, means for determining thepresence of a sheet of material in proximity to said instrumentality, astop finger, and means for moving the stop finger into the path ofadvance of the material when a sheet is located in proximity to theinstrumentality in order to arrest the advance of a succeeding sheet ofmaterial. g

35. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, an operatinginstrumentality, a continuously operating conveyor for advancing sheetsof material past saidinstrumentality, a stop finger, and means formoving the stop finger into the path'of advance of the material operablewhen a sheet is located in proximity to the said instrumentality inorder to arrest the advance of a succeeding sheet of material.

36. In a machine'for operating upon sheet material, an operatinginstrumentality, a continuously operating conveyor for advancing sheetsof material past said instrumentality, means for determining thepresence of a sheet in proximity to the instrumentality, and meansresponsive to the first-mentioned means for arresting the advance of asucceeding sheet of material until an operation has been completed uponthe first sheet.

37. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, an operatinginstrumentality, a. continuously operating conveyor'for advancing sheetsof material past said instrumentality, means for'removing a sheet fromthe conveyor and for presenting it to the instrumentality, a stopfinger, and means for engaging with a sheet when it is'presented to theinstrumentality operable to'efiect movement of the stop finger into thepath of movement of the material to arrest the'advance of a succeedingsheet of material.

88. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, an operatinginstrumentality,-a conveyor for advancing sheets of material past thei'nstrumentality, means for determining the "presence of a sheet inproximitytotheinst'rumenta'lity, a member normallybp'erable forarrestingthe advanceof a sheet toward the instrumentality', and means responsiveto the first-mentioned means for renderingsaid member inoperative. V

39. In a machine for operating-upon sheet material, an'ope'ratinginstr'umentality, a'con- 'tinuously operating conveyor for advancing themateria'l past the instrumentality,means operative intermittently toarrest; thread .va'n'cingimovement of the material success'ively tolocate itin different positions longitudi'nally of the operatingmeans,and-means for moving the materialon thelc'onveyor transversely of theoperating meansiwhile the material is being fed;

401 In a machine for operating upon sheet material," an.operating'instrumentality, a

continuously operating conveyor for advancing material past saidinstrumentality, intermittently operated means for removing the materialfrom the conveyor thereby to interrupt the advance of the material, andmeans operable in timed relation to movements of the intermittentlyoperated means for aligning the material transversely of the conveyor.

41. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, an operatinginstrumentality, a

continuously operating conveyor for advancing material past saidinstrumentality, a

gage mounted independently of the conveyor for locating thematerialtransversely of the conveyor, and means operable intermittentlyyieldingly to move the material toward the gage as the material is beingadvanced.

42. In a machine for operating upon sheets of material-which aretemporarily secured to cutting boards by means of clamps, a contmuouslyoperating conveyor for advancing the material, and means for engagingthe clamps to locate the material transversely of the conveyor.

43. In a machine for operating upon sheet material which is temporarilysecured to a cutting board by means of clamps, a conveyor for advancingthe material, and intermittently operated means constructed and arivranged to engage the clamps and to move the clamps and the materialtransversely of the conveyor.

44. In a machine for operating upon sheet a material which istemporarily secured to a cutting board by means of clamps, an op--erating instrumentality, a conveyor for advancing the material past theinstrumentality, and means for releasing the clamps from v the material.I

' 45. In a machine for operating upon sheet material which istemporarilysecured to a cutting board by means of clamps, means foradvancing the material from one end of the machine toward the other,means for releasing the clamps from the material and cutting board, andmeans for returning the released clamps to the first-mentioned end ofthe machine.

46. In a machine for operating upon sheet material which is temporarilysecured to a cutting board by clamps, a conveyor for feeding thematerial, and means constructed and arranged for engaging the clamps toguide the material as it is placed upon the conveyor. 47. In a machinefor operating upon sheet material which is temporarily secured to acutting board by clamps, means for feeding the material, a memberconstructed and arranged'to engage the clamps for locating the materialtransversely of the machine, and means for guiding the clamps towardsaid member.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ERASTUS E. VVINKLEY.

